The Maryland Collaborative for Beginning Farmer Success builds on existing Extension resources and partnerships with Future Harvest CASA (Chesapeake Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture), Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission, The University of Maryland Eastern Shore and experienced farmers to provide beginning farmers with easily accessible tools and practical, experience-based training on-farm production, marketing, land management, business planning, and financial resources. The Collaborative features four major components for various levels of background knowledge a beginning farmer may already possess. Beginning farmers may choose to enter into the Collaborative at any of the four levels.
-
Explore: Beginning farmers will be able to explore farming options, understand the components of a successful farm operation, and make decisions about what enterprises best fit their interests.
-
Refine: Beginning farmers will be able to further refine their farm interest, understand the requirements and strategies of different farm enterprises and begin developing plans for assessing resources needed to implement a farm plan.
-
Develop: Beginning farmers will acquire the skills necessary to develop specific farm production and business plans and obtain needed resources to begin a farm enterprise.
-
Implement: Beginning farmers will implement farm plans, start agricultural enterprises and continue as successful beginning farmers.
